SWITZERLAND: CHIEF MEDIATRORS IN WTO SAY NEW DRAFT PLAN FOR A TRADE ACCORD IS 'VERY STRONG' AND COULD LEAD TO A DEAL

Record ID: 646690

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: CHIEF MEDIATRORS IN WTO SAY NEW DRAFT PLAN FOR A TRADE ACCORD IS 'VERY STRONG' AND COULD LEAD TO A DEAL
  • Date: 30th July 2004
  • Summary: (W4) GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JULY 30, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. PAN FROM LAKE TO EXTERIORS OF WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) HEADQUARTERS 0.09 2. SLV DELEGATES ARRIVING AT THE WTO (3 SHOTS) 0.38 3. MCU (English) WTO DIRECTOR GENERAL SUPACHAI PANITCHPAKDI SAYING: "We have a very strong text out this morning, clearly very well balanced, improving concepts on the areas of concern to everyone particularly areas of concern for the European countries, also addresing issues such as cotton and non agricultural issues." 1.12 4. MCU CAMERAMAN 1.14 5. MCU (English) WTO DIRECTOR GENERAL SUPACHAI PANITCHPAKDI SAYING: "We certainly would need this morning constructive engagement of the members, to have the text taken forward for more consultation today. We hope to have more consultation this afternoon and tonight, so let's see how things move on. But I would like to confirm this is really a strong text."/WTO DIRECTOR GENERAL ENTER BUILDING 1.49 6. MCU (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR, HEAD OF BRAZILIAN DELEGATION, LUIS FELIPE SEIXAF CORREA SAYING: "We still need to negotiate a lot, a lot is needed for the text to be accepted." 2.00 7. CU OF THE PROPOSED TEXT 2.12 8. PAN/SV/LV OF DELEGATIONS INSIDE THE MEETING (7 SHOTS) 3.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Reuters ID: LVA69Q6KP7WNEYV7WU2TCSY7X553
  • Story Text: Chief mediators in WTO say new draft plan for a
    trade accord is 'very strong' and could lead to a deal.



    Chief mediators in World Trade Organisation (WTO)
    talks on Friday (July 30) launched a last-ditch bid to
    clinch an accord to revive stalled global free trade
    negotiations.

    With the clock ticking towards a Friday midnight
    deadline, WTO chief Supachai Panitchpakdi and executive
    General Council chairman Shotaro Oshima circulated to
    delegates what they have said is effectively their final
    shot at an accord.

    The 20-page blueprint calls for the elimination of farm
    export subsidies and sets out other principles for
    reforming agricultural trade. It also lays down guidelines
    for opening up
    business in industrial goods and services and for launching
    negotiations on an customs code.

    "We have a very strong text out this morning, clearly
    very well balanced, improving concepts on the areas of
    concern to everyone particularly areas of concern for the
    European countries, also addressing issues such as cotton
    and non agricultural issues," said Supachai.

    He added: "We certainly would need this morning
    constructive engagement of the members, to have the text
    taken forward for more consultation today. We hope to have
    more consultation this afternoon and tonight, so let's see
    how things move on. But I would like to confirm this is
    really a strong text."
    One of the delegates wasn't quite as optimistic.

    "We still need to negotiate a lot, a lot is needed for the text to
    be accepted," said head of the Brazilian
    delegatin Luis Felipe Seixaf Correa.

    On the politically sensitive area of agriculture, the
    text had new language to assuage European Union demands
    that fellow major farm subsidiser the United States does
    more to discipline export credits if the EU scraps
    trade-distorting export aids.

    It also tightened limits on how rich nations shield
    so-called sensitive products with high duties, likely to
    cause opposition from big importers such as the Swiss and
    Japan.

    The text introduced a commitment for a quick move to
    reduce domestic support for farmers, but there were also
    tougher restrictions on overall spending.

    It also offered a new fast-track approach to their
    demands that the United States end its subsidies for cotton
    production, which the Africans say drive their farmers out
    of business.

    Cotton was a particularly divisive issue when talks
    collapsed in Cancun last year.

    It also authorises negotiations for a customs code to
    fight corruption, something richer states wanted.

    Negotiators are struggling for accord on a framework
    for the next stage of the Doha Round, launched in the Qatar
    capital in 2001, but derailed since Cancun last September.

    A pact would let the WTO say the talks are back on
    track, but officials say failure may postpone for years
    trade liberalisation and its promise of a boost to the
    world economy.

    Hopes for an accord rose on Thursday (July 29) after
    five core members -- the United States, the European Union,
    Australia, Brazil and India -- struck a deal on farm trade.

    But late on Thursday arguments continued to rage over
    industrial tariffs, with developing countries, particularly
    in Africa, pushing for changes to the proposed blueprint.

    One concession in the new text was that it recognised
    that many issues in the industrial tariffs were difficult
    and could be left for further negotiations.


    os/

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